2012 RSS

Buddy Roemer

GOVERNOR GARY JOHNSON DESERVES TO BE HEARD IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES

Former Republican presidential candidate and Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer today called for Libertarian presidential nominee and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson to be included in this Fall’s presidential debates.

In a statement, Roemer said, “I saw and experienced first-hand how the media and major party ‘establishment’ can use debate invitations to narrow the field in a presidential election. That should not be allowed to happen this Fall. Gary Johnson is a very successful two-term governor who has currently met the requirement of being on the ballot in enough states to be elected President. He must be in the Presidential debates."

“Despite what the vested special interests, the media, and the two ‘major’ parties would have us believe, nowhere is it written -- in the Constitution or elsewhere – that we should have only two choices for President. Especially when those two choices are basically the same choice. Voters deserve the opportunity to see and hear a candidate who will offer real alternatives for this nation. Gov. Gary Johnson offers that alternative. Johnson, has the resume and record to back up what he is saying. Gov. Gary Johnson's voice deserves to be heard."

“I have gotten to know Governor Johnson over the past several months, I am convinced that he is a capable and proven leader. His message deserves to be heard, and as a fellow former governor, I have tremendous respect for his record as a chief executive. He is a leader that many Americans could easily support if only given the opportunity.”

Governor Roemer is not the first well-known former governor to lend support for Johnson’s inclusion in the Fall debates. Governor Jesse Ventura of Minnesota has strongly advocated for Johnson’s participation and urged voters to support his candidacy.

August 2, 2012, Seattle – Buddy Roemer, a former Louisiana Governor and four-term Congressman, released a statement today, calling for Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson's inclusion in the upcoming debates.

Gov. Roemer points out that because Gov. Johnson is one of only three candidates who will likely appear on the ballot in all 50 states this November, the former New Mexico Governor's voice should be heard from the debate stage alongside President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney.

“Despite what the vested special interests, the media, and the two ‘major’ parties would have us believe, nowhere is it written – in the Constitution or elsewhere – that we should have only two choices for President. Especially when those two choices are basically the same choice," Roemer said in the statement. "Voters deserve the opportunity to see and hear a candidate who will offer real alternatives for this nation. Gov. Gary Johnson offers that alternative."

WASHINGTON – The Federal Election Commission has certified payments of $66,490.99 in federal matching funds to presidential candidate Charles E. “Buddy” Roemer III and $130,058.91 to presidential candidate Gary Earl Johnson for the 2012 primary election. The U.S. Treasury Department transferred the amounts certified by the Commission on Tuesday, July 3.

These payments raise the total amount of federal funds certified to Roemer and Johnson to $351,961.10 and $230,058.91, respectively.

Roemer, the first 2012 presidential candidate to be declared eligible by the Commission to receive federal matching funds, ended his presidential campaign on May 31. He will be eligible for additional matching funds to the extent that he has debt and additional contributions eligible for matching. Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate, became eligible for matching funds in May.

To become eligible, candidates must raise a threshold amount of $100,000 by collecting $5,000 in 20 different states in amounts no greater than $250 from any individual.Other requirements to be declared eligible include agreeing to an overall spending limit, abiding by spending limits in each state, using public funds only for legitimate campaign-related expenses, keeping financial records and permitting an extensive campaign audit.

The presidential public funding program is financed through the $3 check-off that appears on individual income tax returns. The program has three elements: grants to parties to help fund their nominating conventions, grants available to nominees to pay for the general election campaign, and matching payments to participating candidates during the primary campaign.

This cycle, the maximum amount a primary candidate could receive is currently estimated to be about $22.8 million. The Commission has also certified $18,248,300 each to the Republican and Democratic parties for their 2012 conventions.

Baton Rouge, LA –Governor Buddy Roemer issued the following statement on the suspension of his Presidential Campaign:

Today, I am no longer a candidate for President of the United States.

After 17 months of a wonderful campaign, the lack of ballot access in all 50 states makes the quest impossible for now.

I want to thank my family, particularly my wife Scarlett, and my three children Caroline, Chas, and Dakota. I’d also like to thank my three sisters, Margaret, Melinda, Melanie, and my brother Danny for all of their efforts.

I could not have done this without the guidance and brilliance of my campaign manager, Carlos Sierra of El Paso, and without the new media expertise of Jill Sherman and Morgan Martinez, the volunteer efforts of Joshua Chavers, the start-up assistance of a great leader, Skardon Baker of Los Angeles, the courage of my New England director, Jim Knowlton of Worchester, and the scheduling patience of William Pierce of Rhode Island.

A special thank you to Bill Klotz of Louisiana who never faltered— not once. My kitchen cabinet included Taunton Melville of Louisiana, Len Sanderson of DC, Larry Lessig of Massachusetts, Dennis Stine of Louisiana, Brian Silver of California, and Mark McKinnon of Texas.

And to the thousands of volunteers from Alaska to Florida, from Puerto Rico to California, from New Hampshire to Texas: you made the journey worthwhile, particularly since you gave so generously of your time and energy.

We ran like we would serve – Free to Lead. To protect that freedom, we fully disclosed every contribution. We accepted no contributions above $100. We accepted no PAC money, no Super PAC money, no corporate money, and no lobbyist money.

We assumed no debt and we end this campaign with money in the bank. Once again, we ran like we intended to serve. We received contributions averaging less than $50 each from thousands and thousands of Democrats, Republicans and Independents in all 50 states.

We were not included in a single one of the 23 nationally televised GOP debates, and yet received 7% of the popular vote in a national poll conducted just a few weeks ago. My team was amazing and I thank you.

America is a nation at risk. Job prospects are inadequate. Trade is neither smart nor fair. The tax code is unreadable and, I say, un-American. The budget is unsustainable. Small business must be re-vitalized. Energy has no strategy. Healthcare is not healthy. Banks are still too big to fail, and comprehensive immigration reform is a fantasy.

We can turn all these problems into opportunities, but we must begin our battle with the special interests who are content with the status quo. They don’t want change. They spend billions to keep their control. They own our political system. They bought it with their fundraisers for incumbents, and with jobs for the already powerful. They bought it with special favors and inside information for those who can return the gesture in amendments and legislation and earmarks. They finance the elections. They hire the politicians upon their retirement. And they own the two major political parties. It’s un-democratic and it’s simply un-American.

Look at the facts. 98% of the electorate does not give a penny to presidential or congressional campaigns. The money comes from Wall Street banks, corporate PACs, the labor union coffers, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, Big Oil, military defense contractors, miscellaneous PACs, Super PACs and the lobbyists. The money comes from all of these special interests, and what do they get in return? “Too big to fail” and the death of Glass-Steagall, insurance monopolies, pharmaceutical profit protection, no-bid contracts, $675 hammers for the military, earmarks, $5.1 billion in profits and pay no federal income taxes, subsidies for the wealthiest corporations, and all of the big givers first in line for any perks or favors.

The special interests give the money and they get a stacked deck in return. And what do we get? We get gridlock, corruption, a do-nothing Washington, and a Congress almost certain to be re-elected year after year.

Although there is a cry for action on many critical issues, we have to start with the issue that deals with the control of the system: campaign finance reform. If we are to become a practicing republic again, we must end the addiction to special interest money.

Reform must be the first issue.

As I am no longer a candidate for president, I am free to pledge a good portion of the rest of my life to enacting campaign reform in the halls of Congress and the corridors of the White House. Instead of using my right to the floor of Congress to lobby for corporate clients, I will lobby for the American people who want reform.

It might require a new organization to get this done, but regardless, we will highlight corruption and its effects on policy and public perception, suggest solutions, build coalitions, and support the advocates of our ideas or those who have better ones.

This struggle will not be easy. The enemies of reform are powerful and entrenched, but this is a struggle that America must win. The key is to realize that I cannot beat them alone. This will take a team effort. We must work together, setting aside inevitable differences on other issues in order to build a reform team. We must dare to look at a total reform package including contribution reform, reapportionment reform, and term-limit reform. I cannot do this alone. True and thorough reform will not occur solely as a “me” effort. This must be a “we” effort.

We must have the spirit to ask all political parties to join with us in this effort. To be successful, this endeavor must cross party lines. In truth, the two major parties are addicted to special interests and corporate money. I have said it many times: they are joined at the billfold. The two parties have been graveyards of reform too often in the past. They don’t want reform. They only want victory and reelection.

You already know this to be true. The latest national polling shows that 42% of the electorate now classify themselves as “independent,” with both major parties shrinking in size, scope, and power.

Join with us. Be unafraid. We’ll put a new organization together and will use the power of the people and new media unlike any organization has ever done with a political goal. We will ask other organizations and associations to join with us in building this team of reformers. We will re-energize our republic.

Again, thank you for standing with me. Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Together, we will continue to reform our country and make America great once again. We are just getting started.

I am disappointed in the decision of Americans Elect to discontinue their online nominating process. As in any new process, Americans Elect's procedure was ripe with difficulty related to access, validation and security issues. This is not unexpected, but I thank them for their effort at choice and reform.

I am taking the next few days to review with supporters how best to proceed from here. A political system corrupted by special interest money and a Party duopoly addicted to that same money demands reform. We aim to figure out the best way to deliver the message and highlight examples which best prove this point.

A great nation in trouble deserves leadership with two clear, compatible goals: jobs and justice.

It begins with reform.

I am not willing to let the issue of reform die with Americans Elect. Our Republic needs it now more than ever.

Many media outlets are calling the visionary organization “dead,” “a failure,” or “ahead of it’s time.” I disagree with all of these assessments. What Americans Elect has done for our country is revolutionary. It is my sincere hope that they continue on their mission of putting forth a credible candidate to face the bought candidates – Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. The pundits must understand that radical change such as this does not happen over night or without growing pains. The American people are hungry for reform and both parties are not providing it because they are too busy fighting like school children.

My latest polling has me at 7% nationally prior to selecting a vice president, raising much money, or getting much media attention. If I am the nominee for Americans Elect, I will be a factor in this race.

Baton Rouge, LA – The Buddy Roemer for President campaign announced a suite of online tools and programs that are being used to develop a comprehensive online presidential campaign. From Twitter to mobile apps, below is a summary of tools the campaign is using to reach out to voters from state to state.

The Roemer campaign recently launched a Facebook application created by Votizen. This app allows voters to discover which of their friends on Facebok are registered voters, and asks them to support Buddy on Americans Elect. Essentially, the Buddy Roemer campaign is making it easier for registered voters to connect with one another using Votizen.

Developed by 5ivePoints, the Roemer campaign launched a mobile campaign app for a smartphone or web browser. This app will help supporters complete phone and/or door to door missions for the campaign, check-in at events, and much more. The app can be downloaded HERE.

Ruck.us is an interactive site that allows voters to organize according to issues and positions. Politically like-minded people are able to share ideas and take collective action. Our Rucks can be seen HERE.

Twitter provides an online forum where we receive questions that the candidate will answer directly and in a timely fashion. Twitter Town Halls have become an important tool for keeping in touch with supporters, donors, and curious twitterers. Twitter Town Halls allow anyone with a Twitter account to have access to the candidate for an open, honest online discussion.

Donated Tweets is one more way twitter is being used to reach the full potential of an online presidential campaign. Supporters have the option to "donate" a tweet from their account on behalf of the campaign. This allows a wider twitter audience to be reached and helps busy supporters continue to be involved in a campaign they believe in.

Baton Rouge, LA – Americans Elect Presidential candidate Buddy Roemer's campaign released the following appearances. All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise stated. All times are local:

Location: Princeton University*April 257:30 PM ESTPrinceton, NJ

Online Location: Twitter Town HallApril 254:30 PM EST

Online Location: Reddit AMAApril 267:00 PM EST

Location: Macalester CollegeMay 112:00 PM CDTDavis Court, Markim Hall

Location: University of MinnesotaMay 15:30 PM CDTHubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Location: University of MinnesotaMay 17:00 PM CDTHubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs